Shots fired at soldiers at Camp Shelby in Mississippi

Violence aimed at American soldiers in the United States certainly seems to be on the rise, and the troubling trend continued yesterday at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. While around 4,500 soldiers were conducting training exercises at the Joint Forces Training Center, police say a two-door red pickup truck pulled near the base and fired shots toward the soldiers, according to police. No injuries were reported and police are now searching for a single suspect.

Around noon on August 4^th, while soldiers were training at the state-owned military post of Camp Shelby, soldiers heard shots being fired, according to USA Today. Lt. Colonel Christian Patterson, director of public affairs for the Mississippi National Guard told reporters that although he could not officially confirm the intended targets of the shooting, he could confirm that the shots came from a two-door red Ford Ranger. The truck had the words “broken arrow” written across the top, and several soldiers observed the truck driving past the base around the time the shots rang out.

Initially, the Perry County Sheriff’s office focused their investigation on two men after finding a vehicle matching the description at a nearby home in New Augusta. However, after the suspects were brought to the Perry County Sheriff’s Department and questioned by police, they were released without charges. Shortly thereafter, Perry County Sheriff Jimmy Dale Smith held a news conference explaining that they now believe that only one white male was involved in the shooting, according to WDAM.com.

Sheriff Smith also explained during his news conference that the FBI and ATF have been briefed on the situation. Sheriff Smith told reporters that they are now focusing their investigation on a white male suspect driving a small-type maroon truck with black rims that sits low to the ground. Smith further explained that two soldiers were at the scene of the shooting, but they were not able to give any further identification on the suspect.

Authorities are asking that anyone with information regarding the shooting contact the Perry County Police Department.